A person wearing a Pikachu costume joined numerous demonstrators in Istanbul, protesting against the detention of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is a significant opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A viral video showed tumultuous scenes in Turkey’s streets, where protesters can be seen running from the police. One particular demonstrator, dressed in an inflatable Pokemon costume, is also seen attempting to escape.
Protests erupted following Imamoglu’s arrest on corruption allegations, which both he and his followers assert are politically driven. Justice minister Yilmaz Tunc maintained that Turkey’s legal system functions autonomously, stating that the Istanbul mayor’s detention stemmed from serious accusations rather than political motives.
Tunc rejected claims about journalist imprisonments, although eight reporters were detained and subsequently freed.
Since March 19, authorities have taken nearly 1,900 people into custody, including media personnel documenting the events. Interior minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that 1,878 individuals have been detained since the protests began, with only 489 released thus far.
BBC correspondent Mark Lowen faced deportation after being classified as a “threat to public order,” an action that BBC News CEO Deborah Turness described as “an extremely troubling incident.” Furthermore, Turkish broadcasting authorities suspended opposition channel Sozcu for 10 days, citing alleged promotion of “hatred and hostility” in its protest reporting.
Alongside Lowen, seven Turkish journalists were arrested during protest coverage.
The demonstrations have sparked global concerns regarding Turkey’s democratic decline, affecting financial markets and requiring central bank action to support the lira. Despite official suppression and government labelling of protests as “street terror,” public resistance continues, revealing growing societal fractures in Turkey.